Man arrested in 2010 slaying at Southfield liquor store

Southfield police said today they have arrested a man in the October killing of a Chaldean party store employee.

Bruce H. Butler, 48, of Southfield was arrested Friday, based on a tip, police said. He is charged with first-degree premeditated murder and firearm possession in the death of Mazin (Mike) Khmoro of Farmington Hills. Butler was arraigned today in 46th District Court in Southfield.

Khmoro was shot around 4 p.m. Oct. 6 as he took trash to a bin behind the Cronin Liquor Store on Northwestern Highway at 12 Mile Road. Witnesses told police they heard gunshots and that the killer fled in a black, four-door SUV. Southfield Police Lt. Nick Loussia said Butler is believed to have been a store customer, but no motive has been released.

Khmoro’s family members said there is some relief in an arrest, but their grief is still fresh.

“My whole family is destroyed right now,” said Brenda Thweny, a younger sister. “We can’t even sleep at night.”

Khmoro, 48, left behind a wife and three children, in addition to his parents, brother and sisters. Thweny said the family has no idea why the former customer might have shot her brother.

“We shared a lot of good memories and I miss him a lot,” she said.

Martin Manna, executive director of the Chaldean Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber put up $10,000 from the Waad Murad Advocacy Fund as part of the reward for information leading to an arrest. Manna there have been about 200 killings of Chaldean store workers in the past two decades.

“Obviously, it doesn’t bring back Mr. Khmoro, but hopefully the family can sleep better,” Manna said.

Butler is being held at the Oakland County Jail. His next court date is Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

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